Dallas Real Estate Blog- Dallas Luxury Realty

When you're selling your home, you'll come across articles that tell you staging is an art and a great investment and something no seller should pass on, and it's true. Sometimes. Other times, the market you're selling in doesn't really call for staging, or your home is already in pretty good shape. You've de-personalized, de-cluttered, and de-emphasized any parts of the home that may stand out because of bright paint, dated fixtures, or a multitude of other sins. So what else would a stager do that you wouldn't think of? Read on to get three tips professional stagers use to sell houses.

1. Get out the big guns. Not literally, of course, because that might just scare away your buyers before they walk in the door! To get professional results, you need…

Tiny, small, and micro are not terms people usually use with pride to describe their homes. In the Lone Star state, especially, we're not used to complimenting people on how miniscule their dwellings are. However, the tiny house movement, as it's affectionately known, is gaining momentum in our large-and-in-charge state.

A "tiny house" is usually defined as a home that is under 900 square feet. These dwellings come in all shapes and sizes, from charming Victorian-style cottages, to rustic mini-ranchers, to sleek and modern cube homes. Popular among the DIY set, tiny homes are almost always owner-built and, thus, allow for flexibility and personalization of design.

You may be wondering what kind of person lives in a tiny house. The answer to that…

Home staging has long been considered a fad or something available only to those who could afford it. Many home sellers believed it to be little more than an expensive and unnecessary perk. Oh, how times have changed.

Recently, home staging has become a necessity when it comes to selling your home quickly and for top dollar. It is now so common that it's almost expected. In fact, not staging your home could put you at a serious disadvantage when trying to sell. But you don't need to shell out the money for a professional staging service to get results that will make potential buyers sit up and take notice. It's possible to stage your own home by following a few simple rules that will instantly transform your house into everyone's first choice.

1. …

We all know that painting a home or stepping up the landscaping can make a big change in a home's curb appeal, but what about those homes with unique interior details that look bland and boring from the outside no matter what kind of superficial changes are made? Homes borne of the tract housing eras of the late '40s, the '70s and the '90s each have their own difficulties to contend with. If your budget can be stretched a little further than average, you may want to consider making an impactful change on your new home.

The late '40s and early '50s brought the boxy houses we have come to know as ranchers. Oftentimes, these little homes can appear abrupt and homely because there is nowhere for the eye to transition from the facade to the lawn. Extending…

A character home is one that has been around for over 50 years. Heritage homes are character homes with significant historical meaning and are recognized by the presiding jurisdiction. Often, cities will contribute funding to the homeowner(s) for the upkeep of the home. The terms "heritage", "historical", and "character" are generally used in the same way by most people, regardless of whether or not the house in question has been recognized.

Character homes are popular because they're attractive and their architecture will never go out of style, but there are many other reasons to invest (or not invest) in a heritage home. Below you'll find some of the positive and negative aspects of these properties.

• Pro: Walkability. The center of a city is…

Slowly but surely, wabi sabi has been creeping into interior design, which is fitting for this go-with-the-flow eastern design philosophy. For several years now, wabi sabi has been gaining traction on and over similar philosophies, most notably the shabby chic esthetic. Wabi sabi emphasizes utilitarian furniture and accessories, elminating, or at least cutting down on, the clutter and unnecessary knick-knacks so prevalent in previous design philosophies. At the core of this esthetic is simplicity, humility and natural materials. Unlike flouncy shabby chic, there are no frills or gimmicks here.

Texture is an important part of wabi sabi. You'll see quite a bit of rough-hewn and wind-worn wood as well as texturized hand-spun ceramics and cast iron in the…

A condominium is a great investment choice for a variety of reasons: condos are less labour-intensive and, generally, less costly than single-family homes to maintain, they're often within walking distance to amenities, pose fewer mobility issues for seniors or people with young children, can be safer and friendlier, and they're often loaded with community amenities like a pool, party room, and/or fitness space. Depending on whether the community allows it, a condo can also be rented out for additional income. With all these benefits, of course, there are some pitfalls to condo-ownership. Below, you'll find some tips and tricks for ensuring your first condo-buying experience is a great one.

Do the Dues

On top of your mortgage, you can expect to pay…

If you're planning on building a new home somewhere in the great state of Texas, chances are pretty good you've considered the effects of weather on the building materials you plan to use. You might have even looked into the many new and innovative materials on the market designed to save on labour costs, time, and/or money. Some of them are eco-friendly, a few save on maintenance, while others are just plain beautiful to look at. If you need some help with finding the newest and best technologies for your house, or time-tested materials that are coming back into vogue, have a look at our list below. You're sure to find something to make your newly-constructed Texas home stand out!

1. Copper roofing has recently experience a rebirth in new homes. It has…

It often happens that you move into a house and you want to change something to make it your own. Maybe you're renovating or, perhaps you're building from the ground up and you want to do something to make your new abode truly unique. It could be that you're just plain tired with your home's decor and you need to change something. If you're stuck for ideas, try out one of the suggestions below to breathe some new life into your space.

• Bedroom
  Consider adding some romance in the bedroom with a chandelier or candelabra. Hung over the bed or between two chairs in a reading nook, a chandelier can divide the zones in your room. If you choose to use candles for your chandelier, you can even move it around the room or into a different space altogether if…

Thinking about what a Dallas luxury home is can be tricky business. Beyond assigning arbitrary price ranges, how do we decide what luxury really is? To answer that, let's look at a few different qualities we find in the most beautiful luxury homes.

A common thread that ties all Dallas luxury real estate together is that it makes a statement. In many cases, this is immediately obvious from the sheer size of the home. You know a dwelling is luxurious when it can comfortably sleep your friends and family, with room for more! As we all know, however, size isn't everything. One of the newest trends in luxury homes is the "jewel box" home. In Texas, where everything is big, this is still a somewhat foreign concept, but it is gaining traction in more urban…